Hoops News Blog

The Dallas Mavericks signed Drew Gooden and expect him to back up Dirk Nowitzki at power forward and play alongside him at center. The deal, agreed to late last week, was announced Thursday. Gooden is joining his seventh team, having also played for Memphis, Orlando, Cleveland, Chicago, Sacramento and San Antonio.

The Chicago Bulls have waived forward Linton Johnson III and guard DeMarcus Nelson. In his second stint with the Bulls, Johnson played in eight games and averaged 1.1 points and 1.0 rebounds. He was signed to two 10-day contracts in March before getting a deal for the remainder of the season on April 7.

Lamar Odom has agreed on a multiyear contract to stay with the Los Angeles Lakers. After a rocky free-agent courtship, Odom will return to the club he helped to its 15th NBA title this summer. Lakers spokesman John Black confirmed an agreement, but wouldn't discuss specifics. The deal will keep Odom alongside Kobe Bryant and [...]

The Indiana Pacers have signed free-agent forward Solomon Jones to a multiyear contract. He spent the past three seasons with Atlanta. The deal was announced Thursday, and Pacers president Larry Bird says Jones can help the team's interior defense. Jones averaged 3.0 points and 2.3 rebounds last season and shot 60 percent.

The Toronto Raptors have added guard Marco Belinelli and center Rasho Nesterovic to the roster. The team announced Thursday that it had acquired Belinelli from Golden State in exchange for forward Devean George and cash considerations. Free-agent Nesterovic signed a one-year, $2 million deal. Belinelli was the 18th overall pick in 2007 and appeared in [...]

Vince Carter isn't looking to replace Dwight Howard as the face of the Eastern Conference champion Orlando Magic. Not even close. The recently acquired Carter just wants to fit with his new team and get the prize that has eluded him for a decade in the NBA — a championship ring. "I think we have [...]